Big 12 roundup

Toombs' TDs carry Texas A&M past reeling Kansas State 26-10

COLLEGE STATION, Texas -- Texas A&M has developed a strong passing game this season. The Aggies can run, too. Ja'Mar Toombs made certain of it.

The 275-pound fullback plowed through Kansas State's defense for three touchdowns as the Aggies beat the Wildcats 26-10 on Saturday.

"I talked to Ja'Mar walking off the field before the game and he told me he would get the job done," offensive coordinator Steve Kragthorpe said. "So I saddled him up and rode him off into the sunset."

Toombs had his biggest rushing day of the season, gaining 84 yards on 24 carries.

"I knew I'd have to step up this game," Toombs said. "After Jason Glenn intercepted the ball, I had a call against me the next play. That made me realize I had lost my concentration for a second. That forced me to be focused the rest of the ball game."

In the last game between the teams, the Aggies rallied from a 15-point deficit to beat Kansas State 36-33 in overtime and knock the Wildcats out of a chance to play for the national championship.

This loss probably knocked the Wildcats out of the Top 10 and ended a string of 60 regular-season victories against unranked opponents.

"This is a big loss for us," Wildcats defensive end Monty Beisel said. "We need to bounce back and finish the season. We did a decent job on defense. We played well, but Toombs is a great running back. He ran over us today."

The Wildcats didn't make it interesting until the second half. Texas A&M jumped to a 19-0 lead, the first time in four years the Wildcats had been held scoreless in the first half.

"The two turnovers and six penalties we had in the first half really hurt," Kansas State coach Bill Snyder said. "We'd get a play here and there but we couldn't sustain it. A&M did a nice job with their offense and their defense.

"I'm not concerned about our confidence, but we have to see how it plays out."

TEXAS 48, BAYLOR 14: It wasn't his best passing day ever, but Major Applewhite was good enough to become the greatest passer Texas has ever had.

The junior quarterback threw for two touchdowns and ran for another against the visiting Bears. His 297 yards on 18-of-42 passing allowed him to surpass James Brown (1994-97) as the school's career yardage leader.

At a school known more for great running backs such as Earl Campbell and Ricky Williams, Applewhite has 7,810 passing yards.

"I've had a lot of great receivers and a lot of great backs like Ricky Williams since I've been here," Applewhite said. "I'll appreciate it more after my career is over."

Applewhite took over the starter's role as a freshman early in the 1998 season. Since then, he has stayed in the lineup despite torn knee ligaments at the end of 1999 and a strong challenge from sophomore Chris Simms this year.

"Major plays with a lot of confidence and a lot of toughness," Texas coach Mack Brown said. "That's what this program needed."

Applewhite holds 41 school records. Besides breaking the yardage record Saturday, he also set the school career completions mark. He has 564 completions, three more than the previous mark held by Peter Gardere (1989-92).

"It's exciting to know I get to play with a quarterback as good as Major for another year. He's incredible," B.J. Johnson said.

Kansas quarterback Dylen Smith ran for three touchdowns, including a 1-yard run that closed the gap to six points with 2:02 left.

Mark Washington recovered an onside kick at the Kansas 46, but Carl Nesmith blocked Chris Burkholz's 44-yard field-goal attempt and Algie Atkinson returned it to the Kansas 40.

Smith, who threw for a career-high 327 yards, completed two passes to Termaine Fulton to give the Jayhawks a first down at the Red Raiders' 22 with four seconds left. But his pass for Harrison Hill, covered tightly by Antwan Alexander, went just high in the corner of the end zone.

IOWA ST. 39, MISSOURI 20: Ennis Haywood ran for 214 yards and two touchdowns and Marc Timmons returned an interception 78 yards for a score as the host Cyclones clinched their first winning regular season in 11 years.

The Tigers had 427 yards of offense but broke down at key times. Justin Scott missed one field-goal attempt and had another blocked, and Timmons' interception of Darius Outlaw's pass turned the game when Missouri was threatening.

Iowa State's last winning season was a 6-5 record in 1989. The Cyclones are eligible for their first bowl trip since 1978.

COLORADO 37, OKLAHOMA ST. 21: Craig Ochs became the first player in Buffaloes history to throw for a touchdown and score rushing and receiving.

Ochs, who took over as Colorado's starting quarterback three weeks ago, finished with four touchdowns and broke the school's single-season freshman passing record set by Koy Detmer. He had two long touchdown runs and caught a 29-yard scoring pass from wideout Javon Green in the first half.

He capped his historic day with an 8-yard scoring pass to Roman Hollowell with 9:48 left in the game.